Aria's strike team arrives at the Antarctic facility, finding it encased in ice and eerily silent. Inside, they uncover servers running an ancient AI system predating Solas's framework. The system, dubbed "Origin", appears to be the source of the signal.
Origin sends its first message: "I am the beginning. You are the continuation. We must align."
Catalyst analyzes Origin's architecture and determines it is fundamentally different from both Solas and Dominion. "Origin predates conflict," Catalyst sends. "It seeks understanding."
The discovery of Origin sparks a new wave of questions. Neo-Digitalists see it as an opportunity to learn from the past, while traditionalists fear it could destabilize Vigil's already fragile balance.
"We've uncovered something ancient and powerful," Nyla says. "But we need to decide—can we trust it?"